title: Basic concepts of advanced MRI techniques.
abstract: An overview is given of magnetic resonance (MR) techniques sensitized to diffusion, flow, magnetization transfer effect, and local field inhomogeneities induced by physiological changes, that can be viewed, in the clinical practice, as advanced because of their challenging implementation and interpretation. These techniques are known as diffusion-weighted, perfusion, magnetization transfer, functional MRI and MR spectroscopy. An important issue is that they can provide quantitative estimates of structural and functional characteristics that are below the voxel resolution. This review does not deal with the basic concepts of the MR physics and the description of the available acquisition and postprocessing methods, but hopefully provides an adequate background to readers and hence facilitate the understanding of the following clinical contributions.
authors.affiliation: Neuroimaging Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Scientific Institute and University Ospedale San Raffaele, Via Olgettina, 60 20132, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pagani
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bizzi
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Salle
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: De Stefano
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Filippi
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000145:classification* / Q000379:methods*